I spoke again with a man today that I have mentioned once before in these letters to you, one who is attempting to start a church in this area, one with a charismatic bent, or theological viewpoint, if you will.
He claims that those who have been born again, whether all or some, that clarification was not offered, should be able by the laying on of hands upon a person be able to heal them. When I asked him what his record was in this area, so to speak, he said it was zero out of three attempts, yet he offered the quick response that the Lord told him that he was not to even think about those three.
Speaking in tongues as proof of salvation amongst other topics was also brought up, but they need no further expounding upon here, suffice it to say, that even after the proper Scripture verses were offered to him, in context, he failed to see the error of his thinking.
“A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.” (James 1:8)
I personally believe this man is saved, yet he has either been led down a path of deception, or has willingly chosen that path for himself, and it made me ask this question of myself, have I succumbed to certain wiles of the devil myself in regard to the truths of the Scriptures?
It brings up a topic that I have been hesitant to voice in these letters to you concerning the flesh and our Lord Jesus Christ. I will begin with these verses.
“For I know that in me, that is, in my flesh, dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.” (Romans 7:18)
“And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.” (Matt. 19:17)
When Paul was led by the Spirit to write that first verse mentioned here, as well as others similar to it, we believe, and rightfully so, that he was speaking of all who have ever been born, once they have reached that unknown age, that moment of time in their lives when this verse becomes a truth.
“For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;” (Romans 3:23)
Yet our Savior, even while in the flesh, never sinned, not once in any way, shape or form, so we must conclude that in Him the verse about the flesh holds no meaning, no reference point. Yet He said my Father is greater than me, that only our Father in heaven is good.
There are many things that I do not have the answer for, and many others I dare not attempt to expound upon or give an answer for, or I may be as I said, succumbing to the wiles of the devil, not speaking truth, and thereby possibly deceiving inadvertently those who either listen when I speak, or read these letters. My beautiful wife believes that the words our Savior spoke that day were His way of saying to those present, and all who have read them, that He is God.
If you have read these letters for any length of time, you have seen the following words before.
“I do not know.”
But my friends, when I do know, when I am certain that certain truths of the Word of God have been revealed to me, you or no one else is going to change my mind.
I tried to help that man today see the error of his thinking, he listened, but I do not think he heard me, or the truths from the Scriptures.
What is worse, one who knows the truth, but fears to speak it, or one who disregards it when it is offered to them?
Do not be either of those people.
“But wisdom is justified of all her children.” (Luke 7:35)
Test every spirit, if you do not, you will be led astray. Judge with righteous judgment, if they will not listen, apply Matthew 15:14 to your life concerning them.
“Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch.”